Cong stages protest against BJP govt in Ktk

Congress on Saturday staged a rally here to highlight "failures" of BJP government in Karnataka and renewed its demand for a CBI probe into alleged illegal mining by companies belonging to three ministers from Bellary and seeking their removal from B S Yeddyurappa ministry.

Congress leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah said a memorandum would be submitted to Governor H R Bhardwaj seeking his intervention to refer the matter to CBI probe and also for sacking of Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy, his brother and Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy and their associate Health Minister B Sreeramulu from mine-rich Bellary district.

The Reddy brothers have secured mining licence from Andhra Pradesh, extracting iron ore illegally in Karnataka and stocking it in Andhra Pradesh, he charged. If government did not accept the demands, the party would hold similar protests at district and taluk headquarters for three days from December seven, he said.

The congress leaders also demanded that ''irregularities'' that have taken place in Bangalore Mahangara Palike (Greater Bangalore Municipal body) while awarding works be also refferred for CBI probe.

The Reddy brothers and Sreeramulu had spearheaded a oust-Yeddyurappa campaign but had patched up later.

The mining issue in the mineral-rich districts of Bellary and Ananthapur in Andhra Pradesh triggered a major stir by Telugu Desam Party against illegal mining, prompting the Rosaiah government to order a CBI probe.